Miami Book Fair International Promises Packed, Exciting Program for Teens and Young Adults

Miami, September 3, 2010 -
The 27th edition of the nation’s finest and largest literary gathering, Miami Book Fair International, presented by the Florida Center for the Literary Arts at Miami Dade College (MDC), will take place November 14 - 21, 2010, at the college’s Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami. The popular Street Fair runs Friday, November 19 through Sunday, November 21, with more than 200 exhibitors from around the country selling books in a festive atmosphere. This year, the Fair will celebrate the literature and culture of Mexico. A very special guest will launch Book Fair festivities on opening night. Details will be provided soon.

The Fair will once again provide teens and young adults with a wide variety of programs and author appearances. Among the programs scheduled are the following:

Kids’ Comic Con

A kids’ favorite, Comic Con, returns from New York City with hands-on workshops and portfolio reviews! Last year’s crowd-pleasing activities got teens drawing and writing alongside professional artists/teachers. Free and open to all over the three-day weekend Street Fair, November 19-21, Kids’ Comic Con is the place for every kid who dreams of creating the next Superman or Wimpy Kid.

School of Comics

For those who want to make comics, there is the School of Comics on Friday, November 19. Attend free workshops on writing, drawing and publishing. Top creators include Raina Talgemeir, Dan Archer, Mark McKenna, Tracy White and others.

The first day of the School of Comics will be a Day of Education for teachers, librarians and parents on how to expand the academic curricula with graphic novels, and will be held on Thursday, November 18. Programming will be keynoted by Dr. William Ayers, education theorist, professor of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and author of To Teach: The Journey, in Comics. The Day of Education will be moderated by Carol Fitzgerald, publisher of the popular website site GraphicNovelReporter.com.

Each year, on the opening day of the Street Fair, Wolfson campus becomes a sea of students, from elementary to high school. They arrive from Miami Dade and Broward county schools to listen to and meet their favorite authors and illustrators, and to be introduced to new works of fiction or nonfiction that they may otherwise not have been exposed to. After each session, students receive a complimentary copy of their author’s book thanks to the support of Publix Super Markets Charities and Peacock Foundation, Inc. For reservations: jorden.cunningham@mdc.edu

Young literary fans will surely enjoy appearances by some of today’s top young adult authors, including Darren Shan, Tony DiTerlizzi, Ellen Hopkins and Scott Westerfeld.

The full list of scheduled authors is as follows:

Non-Graphic Young Adult/Teen

Darren Shan’s runaway bestseller Cirque du Freak:The Vampire’s Assistant was adapted into a major motion picture of the same name. His hotly awaited new series and prequel to Cirque Du Freak is Birth of aKiller: The Saga of Larten Crepsley. Before he was a vampire, Larten Crepsley was a boy. Forced on the run, he sleeps in crypts and eats cobwebs to get by. And when a vampire named Seba offers him protection and training as a vampire’s assistant, Larten takes it. This is his story.

Crank author, Ellen Hopkins, completes her provocative, blockbuster trilogy with Fallout, a testament to the harsh reality that addiction is never just one person’s problem.

Bestselling author of the Uglies, Scott Westerfeld, presents Behemoth, a striking futuristic rendition of an alternate past where machines are pitted against genetically modified beasts in the First World War. This is the second book in the Leviathan series.

With its classic prose and breathtaking illustrations, The Search for Wondla by Caldecott Honor Winner Tony DiTerlizzi (The Spiderwick Chronicles and The Spider and the Fly) honors traditional children’s literature in this space-age adventure.

Joanna Philbin’sTheDaughtersBreak the Rules tells the story of three 14 year-old BFF’s as they navigate school, boys, family and life in the big city. Joanna is currently working on her third title in The Daughters series, due out May 2011 and is the daughter of "Live with Regis and Kelly" host Regis Philbin.

Non-Graphic Ages 9-12/Tweens

Bestselling children’s author, Jon Scieszka, was the first National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and has authored some of the best known and funniest books written for children. In SPHDZ Book #2 (SpaceHeadz) Scieszka combines save-the-world from aliens adventure with classic kid fun to make yet another hilarious, rollercoaster ride of a book that all readers will love.

Forge is the compelling sequel to Chains, a National Book Award Finalist and winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. Acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson brings to the page what it takes for runaway slaves to forge their own paths in a world of obstacles—and in the midst of the American Revolution.

Winner of the National Book Award for children’s literature, Kimberly Willis Holt has created a gripping historical novel that centers on a father and son who are dowsers; people who can sense where water is located underground. The Water Seeker combines authentic historical detail with lyrical prose that tells the story of how hard life was on the frontier during the early years of westward expansion.

Inspired by stories of her great-grandmother, who immigrated to Key West at the turn of the last century, two-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer L. Holm beautifully blends family lore with America’s past in this charming gem of a novel, Turtle in Paradise.

Based on the over 14,000 unaccompanied minors who came to the United States to escape Castro’s regime in Cuba in a program known as Operation Pedro Pan. The Red Umbrella tells the story of Lucia and her brother as they are sent by their parents to live with well-meaning strangers in Nebraska. The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez is a moving story of country, culture, family, and the true meaning of home.

MIAMI BOOK FAIR INTERNATIONAL AND FLORIDA CENTER FOR THE LITERARY ARTS

Miami Book Fair International is the largest and finest literary gathering in America. It is the premier event of the Florida Center for the Literary Arts at Miami Dade College. The Center promotes reading and writing throughout the year by consistently presenting quality literary activities open to all in South Florida. Literacy projects target children of all ages—from kindergarten to high school—as well as college students and adults. Established and emerging writers from South Florida and all over the U.S. read, lecture, and teach workshops. They work with K-12, MDC students, and diverse members of the community, helping to deepen their understanding of literature, and encouraging the work of writers at all stages of development. The Center envisions South Florida as a nexus of literary activity in the Americas and beyond, and will continue to champion its mission of promoting the advancement and appreciation of the literary arts in all forms.

Miami Book Fair International is made possible through the generous support of the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts; the City of Miami; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; the Miami Downtown Development; and the Friends of the Fair; as well as many corporate partners.

ABOUT MIAMI DADE COLLEGE

Miami Dade College has a long and rich history of involvement in the cultural arts, providing South Florida with a vast array of artistic and literary offerings including The Miami Book Fair International, The Florida Center for the Literary Arts, The Miami International Film Festival, the Cultura del Lobo performance arts series, The Cuban Cinema Series, the Miami Leadership Roundtable speakers’ series, numerous renowned campus art galleries and theaters, and the nationally recognized School of Entertainment and Design Technology. With an enrollment of more than 170,000 students, MDC is the largest institution of higher education in the country and is a national model for many of its programs. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer more than 300 distinct degree programs including baccalaureate, associate in arts and science degrees and numerous career training certificates leading to in-demand jobs. MDC has served nearly 2,000,000 students since it opened its doors in 1960.

Miami Dade College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.
Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Miami Dade College.
Miami Dade College is an equal access/equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, marital status, age, religion, national origin,
disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, or genetic information. Contact the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs/ADA Coordinator, at 305.237.2577 for information.